Lexus RX400h Preorders Exceed 9,000

[jro4566]

Lexus Exceeds 9,000 Pre-Sold Customer Orders for 2006 RX 400h Hybrid
Tuesday September 7, 12:52 pm ET

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lexus announced today that its dealers have received more than 9,000 pre-sold orders for the 2006 RX 400h luxury gas-electric hybrid SUV through August month-end. The RX 400h provides a powerful new performance dimension to the traditional hybrid advantages of high mileage and low emissions.

"We've received significantly more pre-launch orders for the 400h than we've had for any vehicle in our entire 15-year history," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager, Denny Clements. "Although we're pleased with the early public response to the 400h, we are mindful of our need to respond to these customers in a timely manner," he added.

Source: Yahoo! News

[Ed_21E]

I live in Torrance Ca, there is the toyota, lexus, and honda headquarters blocks from me. I see alot of masked cars. I already saw a 06 GS. Nissan-Infiniti head quarters are in Gardena. I seen a masked Maxima before they came out. The reason japanese companies set the main offices in torrance-Gardena is because Torrance is the sister city to Kashiwa Japan

[rickhunter1max]

I have lot of good friends that work toyota and honda in torrance but they do drive there brands but they all have classic chevys :lol:

[SUPERBADD75]

this isn't a shock at all. i'm curious, though, if Ford has many pre-ordered Hybrid Escapes. this hybrid SUV thing is going to be a hit. the people who want the utility but not the less efficient nature of an SUV now have what they want. wow. these guys are going to clean up.

[cemaxc]

This is a big hint to GM....Bring out the hybrid Tahoe and Suburban NOW!!!!!!!!
They are already excellent vehicles, now just make them more fuel efficient.

[SUPERBADD75]

laserwizard Posted on Sep 18 2004, 09:18 PM
  What a crock!

The reason that this sounds like a lot of orders is because Japanese automakers are notorious for NOT PLACING ORDERS BY CUSTOMER for products and making the consumer CHOOSE from what they ship. I know. I was once unfortunately a peddler of their crap. No need to place orders on cars that will have everyone of them sold anyway. If this had been a domestic car, a 9,000 unit preorder would have been a reason to be WORRIED. 

regardless, every one that ships will sell as quickly as it hits the ground. this is a highly anticipated vehicle, there is no way that it won't sell.

[Askani]

If the Prius doesn't get close to its MPG mark, I wonder what this thing will do with an extra 1,500 pounds to lug around...

On top of that, that article sure sounds like an effort to cheer themselves on....like a crappy football team saying 'we're gonna kick @***', then going out and losing...

[Ming]

I think there may be more preorders for this SUV than the entire production run of the GM "mild hybrid" pickups. :P

[Ten Pounds of Gold]

Relax guys GM doesn't neeed to jump all over this hybrid crap. They can wait and analyze things a little more just like BMW, Audi, MB, Nissan, etc., etc.

It's not always a good thing to be the first. Remember Apple's Newton? It was the first PDA. Now everyone swears by Palm Pilots.

[HOJIMAN2K3]

Yeah, but the newton ran on crappy proprietary software.

Toyota is and has been doing their homework on gas electric hybrids for some time now and they have some pretty wicked tricks up their sleeve right now with people high up talking about a hybrid AWD Supra with an estimated HP of 400 (gas and electric combined) for a 2008 release

[MN12Fan]

Heh. The idea of a Supra Hybrid - a high performance car whose other hallmark would be excellent fuel economy - got me thinking because it sounds like the proverbial mixture of oil and water. Several hundred horsepower and good fuel economy in a sports car? Hmmm. Just watch, the next thing the Japanese will do is sponser an auto race that decides its winner not by who finishes fastest but by who finishes with the best gas mileage .

[frenstall]

Originally posted by Ten Pounds of Gold@Sep 19 2004, 01:19 AM
Relax guys GM doesn't neeed to jump all over this hybrid crap. They can wait and analyze things a little more just like BMW, Audi, MB, Nissan, etc., etc.

It's not always a good thing to be the first. Remember Apple's Newton? It was the first PDA. Now everyone swears by Palm Pilots.

BMW, Audi and MB have powerfull diesels from europe that they will have immediate access to once low sulpher diesel is brought to NA. These diesels bring equal effieciency (in the real world) but boast more then respectable power. Plus, unlike hybrids, real world testing has shown diesels to be nearly equal to the CAFE rating they are given in testing.

GM needs to be prepared to implement either one of these technolgies but we have heard little on their R&D of large car diesels or hybrid systems.

[retransit]

I wonder if any of those prospective buyers are aware of the cost of replacement batteries for the hybrids? Also, when it comes time to dump the old batteries will the local Sears & Roebucks or Autozones be accepting these monstrocities?

[GMfan2381]

Doubt it... I think that when people see a hybrid they say to themselves "wow, I bet that gets like a 100 MPG! I wish I had one". Here in MD hybrids really havent been "taking off" persay.... My friends dad is a master mechanic for Toyota andhe said that the prius is on back order...but I havent seen more then a handfull. And that was said over a year ago. The hybrid craze is overrated to me. And so far I had only accounted on buying new batteries (does anyone know how long they last??) , not the disposal of the old ones. I wonder if Toyota has a system set up for that? "Sure we will take your batteries... but you need to buy these Toyota certified batteries to replace yours". I would rather buy an Aveo. Put an extra 10$ in my tank every 2 weeks and not have to deal with that aggravation.... But thats me.

[jro4566]

Originally posted by retransit@Sep 19 2004, 09:54 AM
I wonder if any of those prospective buyers are aware of the cost of replacement batteries for the hybrids? Also, when it comes time to dump the old batteries will the local Sears & Roebucks or Autozones be accepting these monstrocities?

The batteries are designed to last for a long time and if the battery dies out within (per se) a couple of years, the warranty covers that. And by the time the battery does die out (probably at least 10+ years from now) hybrids are expected to be selling in bigger quantities so prices will have lowered on parts.